ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq might see a new wave of the coronavirus as the country witnesses a combination of low vaccination turnout and spurning of preventive health measures, the health ministry warned on Monday as it urged people to get vaccinated.
As the rate of infections peaks worldwide, Iraq will not be immune to an increase in coronavirus cases, a statement from the Iraqi Ministry of Health warned.
A rise in infections will see the country enter a fourth wave of the virus, it added.
A third wave of the coronavirus hit Iraq in late June, with record-high numbers of daily infections. The surge contributed to an increased demand for vaccines that later dropped as the infection rate slowed.
There is a decline in vaccination turnout “despite the availability of vaccines and expanding number of vaccination teams,” the health ministry added. Mobile vaccination clinics are also experiencing reduced interest.
Earlier this month, the ministry made Pfizer vaccines available for children aged 12 and above in Iraq as students returned to school.
Iraq and the Kurdistan Region are witnessing an upsurge in coronavirus cases that could lead to devastating consequences. Both areas are registering high numbers of infections and deaths. Last month, Iraq warned of the spread of a new strain of the virus.
Iraq reported 829 new coronavirus cases and 33 deaths on Sunday, according to the health ministry. Since the start of the pandemic, it has recorded 2,070,076 cases and 23,536 deaths.
